Printing-apparatus for lenticulated films



Jan. 5, I F. FlsCHER 2,066,679

FRINTINGTAPPARATUS Fon LENTICULATED FILMS original Filed oct. 21, 195s 2sheets-sheet 1A Jam 5, 1937. F. FISCHER 2,066,679v

PRINTING APPARATUS FOR LENTICULATED FILMS Original Filed Oct. 21, r193552 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VEN Ca2? TOR Patented Jan. 5, 1937 Fritz Fischer,Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany,

assignor to Opticolor Aktiengesellschaft,

Glarus, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application October21, 1933, Serial No. 694,561

Renewed June 9, 1936 ber 15, 1933.

13 Claims.

These machines are characterized by an ob.-l

jective of small aperture, which images the origin lm on -the duplicatelm, and by means for 10 causing this aperture to be seen from the lms,

either simultaneously or subsequently, in dier- Thus, -though theaperture isv ent directions. small, all parts of the photographic layerlying behind the lenticular elements may be reproduced.v

According to this invention the ys aid means which cause the aperture tobe seen in diierent directions are rotatably mounted. The chiefadvantage of such an arrangement is that a. rotatory movement may beperformed more exactly thanan oscillating movement. It is-miich easierto get bearings for rotating devices of a machine, which secure acorrect adjustment even after a long period of working. Further alloptical parts may be rigidly fastened to each other, so that the correctrelative adjustmenttoo may be well'secured.v At last it is`of utmostimportance, that there'are relatively small diiculties 4to be overcomewhen the frequency of a rota-f tional movement is increased in contrastwith an oscillating movement. If, for instance, the number of copiedimages is ten per second, which is quite normal regarding therentability of print-v ing machines, it is a hard task to arrangeoscillating parts with suicient exactness, while this is not the casewith rotating parts.

Preferably, the -new machines are so conl structed that there are planemirrors arranged between the objective andthe films so thatthe 40 lmsare seen from the objective in exactly opposite directions out of theoptical axis. These mirrors are rotating round suitably chosen axes sothat the images of the objective'apertures, seen from the lms, describecycles, thus being seen subsequently Ain those different directionsgraphic layer.

The films may preferably be placedparallel to each other and the axis ofsaid rotational movement is so positioned as to pass through the cen-lnecessary `for copying all parts of the photo- In Germany Septem- (Cl.Sii-24) contrast to the films themselves. Thenthe axis may passthroughtheA centers of these images. Either the lms or their images are perpen-.dicular to the said axis. As was told already al1 movable parts may berigidly fixed to arotating-carrier and it is advantageous with respectto a correct adjustment to fasten all optical parts to the same carrier.But it may also be preferable to' put up the objective unmovable withrespect to the lms or the film-gates, then it being easier to arrange ashutter at the objective. This shutter intermits the exposure during theintervals, when the lms are pulled and when those parts of thephotographic layer are exposed which correspond to the boundariesbetween the lter-zones'. The shutter may be also constructed-as toprevent only the exposure of the said boundaries, further means near thelight source being provided for interrupting the exposure during themovement of the lms.- When the objective is immovably placed, itsoptical axis or the continuation of the axis passes through thecentersof the images on the lms or through the images of said centers,generated by immovable means. y Such means which are immovably xed -arefor instance the plane mirrors, put up in front of the lms, either inorder to cause both films to be pulled within the same planewhich factAallows a very `exact pull-down mechanism, or

in order to get images which are correct withv respectto the top and thebottom as well as with respect to their right and left hand sides.Especially for the last named purpose it is necessary to employimmovable. optical means. YInstead of simple plane mirrors opticalsquares, suitably mounted, may for instance be used.

Some examples of the new machines are explained by the help of theannexed drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional diagramillustrating one form of apparatus with which the ln vention may bepracticed;

Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are still more diagrammatic,

Y illustrating diierent forms of apparatus whichmay be used in place ofthat appearing-in Figxl;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing another form of apparatuswhich may be em- .ployed: f

Fig. 7 is a. view taken at right angles to Fig. 6 and illustrating theshutter shown in that figure;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing still another form ofapparatus which may be used;

Figs. .9, 10, and 13 are diagrammatic views cor- 55- toA responding toFig. 2 and showing still other ar-` rangements which may be used in the.practice of the invention;

Figs. 11 and' 12 are diagrams which will be used in explaining theoperation of the invention.

In'Figure 1 the two films are placed at I and .2. The arrows are drawnso that the top of one arrow is imaged on the top of the other one.

Thus', at once maybe seen if the images are oorrect or notwlth`respecttc the top and bottom and with respect to right and lefthand sides.V

The optical axis of the objective 3 passes throughthecentersoftheimagesontheillms I vand 2. The plane mirrors 4 and l are parallel to eachother and parallel to the optical axis so that, from the objective, thenlm I is seen plieate film and in order to stop all unreflected light,the diaphragms l and 8 are suitably ilxedV In the position, representedto the carrier 6. in the 'gure, the objective is seen from the nlm I at3' and from the film 2 at 3". It may easily be seen, that the images 3and 3 of the objective are moving on circles when the carrier 6 and themirrors l and 5 are rotating round the optical axis of the objective.

In order to explain the manner of action in full detail the Figuresll'and 12 may be analyzed. By the circles 9 of these gures the pathwhich is taken by the image of the objective during one rotation isdrawn. These imagesof the objective are seen from the tllms in thegraphic objective. Besides, the lines I Il and II are drawn so that theywould be imaged by each of the lenticular elements on two lines, thedistance of which is equal to the breadth of one lenticulation. Thus, ifthe objective used for taking'or projecting purposes is, for instance,

so constructed that a multicolor screen formedy by three different zonesis seen in the aperture, these three zones would -be lying between thelines I Ii and I-I.V The two lines I2 and I3 correspond, in this case,to the spots, where the boundaries between the adjacent zones of theillter are seen in the taking or projecting process. In order to copyall parts of the photographic layer, lying behind one lenticularelement, it is necessary, that `the image of the objective seen from thefilms passes over at least the maximum part of the region between thetwo lines I0 and II. Therefore, in the Fig. 1l, the aperture of theobjective is drawn in several different positons between the points I4and I5, in order to point out, that the duplicate fllm must be exposed,when the rotating means have such positions, that the said aperture isseen between the points I4 and I5. Those parts of the circle which arepassed by the image of the objective While the exposure is eilected are,as follows from the aforesaid, near a diameter which runs in parallel tothe lenticular elements on the illm. A better separation of the colorsis performed by interrupting the exposure for short intervals of time,when the image of the objective crosses the lines III, II. I2 or I3,

theoppositeaideotifapa'thbetween .EES

surpasaeaasisdrawnin'FigureILboththelinesIlandILthenlmsarealwaysseenfrom the objective in directionsformingrather grat angles with the optical axis. This may have drawbackscansedby the following tworeaaons. First, thought-beams pass theobjective very inclined: thus the Image-neld for which theobjectiveiscorrectedmustbeverygreatandthe objective is effective forauch directions, for whichitsstateofcon'ectionisgenerallynot thebest,Itistherefore neceasarytouaespecial types of objectives which arecorrected for strong- A 1y inclined beams.

Next, the sharpest and best defined duplicate images on lenticulatednlms may be got, when. simultaneously.. the layer of the origin film isimaged on the layer of the duplicate film and the lenticulated surfaceof the origin on the lenticulated surface of the duplicate. These twoconditions being fulfilled, in a plane section perpendicular to thelenticular elements an exact imagingof the lenticular elements of theorigin film on the lenticular elements of the duplicate film is seem-ed,while in a plane section running in parallel to the lenticular elementsan exact imaging of the layer of the origin `illm on the layer of theduplicate film is performed. Now; by the fact that the image of theobjective is running on a circle, it is effective like an objective oflarge aperture so that the depth of sharpness is not mmcient In thedescribed example, this would have the consequence, that one duplicateimage which is printed when the objective is seen between the points I4and I5 is somewhat displaced, in parallel to the lenticular elements, ascompared with the next duplicate image which is printed when theobjective is seen between the points Il and l1. For, in a plane sectionparallel to the lenticulations, an exact image oi' the layer of the`origin fllm is formed somewhat in front 'of the lenticulations of theduplicate film and, as the beams are strongly inclined, the height ofthe image is a different one, if the objective is seen between and is orbetween is and n. The' consequence is that the images, when beingprojected, show a small, oscillation parallel to the lenticulations. Onthe contrary, the denition of the single images may be good as it isonly a function of the real aperture of the objective ,which may be madesmall.

In order to prevent the described oscillation, it is preferable toexpose the'duplicate film only when the objective is seen between thepoints I4 and I5 and' to pull the films onward during the rest of thetime. 'lhe same effect is got by exposing the film only when theobjective is seen between IG and II and by pulling the films onwardduring the rest 'of this time.

Figure l2 serves for explaining a slight modiilcation: The optical meansare so arranged that the diameter of the circle 9 is approximately equal-to the distance of the two lines Il andA II. This has the advantagethat the light beams passing the objectives kare notiso stronglyinclined. One half of the circle Soi'iFIgure 12.is used for exposure,the other half forpulling the films. For instance, the exposure isperformed while .the objective is4 seen between I3 and I9. The fact thatthe light beams meeting the duplicate film vary the directions noi'|only perpendicuiarly but also in parallel to the lenticulations, causesthe component images corresponding toV the marginal filter zones to becopied somewhat displaced vas compared with the componentimagecorresponding to `the central filter zone. But this defect issmaller than that which may be observed when the intervals between I4and I5 and between I6 and I'I of-Figure 1l are used for exposure, as thediameter of the circle 9 of Figure 12 is smaller and as the sections aremore close together. Besides, as was told already, the exposure isinterrupted when the image'of the objective crosses the lines II, II, I2and I3, so that the sections near the lines I and I I, which would beespecially disturbing, are not effective.

Attention-must befpaid to the fact that the intervals of time duringwhich the image oi' the objective moves from the line Il to the line I2or from the line I3 to the line II are different from the intervalsduring which it moves from I2 to I3. If therefore, all component imagesare to be equally exposed the differences of the intervals must becompensated for. 'Ihis may be done in different ways: Either theintensityrof the light source is varied synchronously to the rotationalmovement of the optical parts. so that it lightens weaker when thelateral zones are exposed and stronger when the central zone isexposed.- Or

the openings of the shutter interrupting the ex posure are provided withgray-glasses of vary- 4 lng thicknesses. Details of such a constructionlso are arranged, in parallel to each other andto the optical axis,between the objective and the illms, so that the images 3' and 3" of theobjective may be seen in the desired directions. 'I'he dlaphragms 24through 21 are joined to the mir- Arors so that no light beam may passfrom the origin film to the duplicate film without being reflected. Themirrors and the diaphragms are fastened to a carrier so that theyrevolve round the optical axis of the objective. 'Ihe objective mayrevolve as well or may be immovably fixed.

The diameter of the circle 3 may be increased or decreased by increasingor decreasing the disstance between the mirrors and the optical axis,the angle between the mirrors and the axis being correspondinglyvaried.Y

The films I and 2 or, more correctly spoken,

the film-gates of the machine represented in Figure 3, too, areimmovably mounted. The light passes the film I, the plane mirror 21, theoptical square 23A and the objective 3, the optical axis of which isperpendicular to the straight connection oi' the centers of the imageson the films. Behind the objective the light passes the optical square29, the piane `mirror 3l `and reaches the duplicate nlm 2. Themirrors-2'I and 3l are parallel Referring now tions. transverse to thefilm and the film is perpendicuto each other and inclined by 45 againstthe said straight connection. Their normal lines are lying in a planewhich contains also the optical axis of the objective. The edges of theoptical squares are normal to that plane. The objective and the mirrors21 through 30 are adjusted with respect to each other and rigidly 'fixedto a carrier rotatably round an axis which passes through the centers ofthe filmgates. The circle 9 may be varied by varying the distancebetween the optical axis and the squares 28 and 29.

'Ihe machine of Figure 4 is so constructed that the continuation of theoptical axis of the objective 3 passes by the centers of the film-gates,where the films i and 2 are pulled. The plane surfaces 3l through 34,forming an angle of 45 with the optical axis are reflecting ones.vBesides Vthere are optical squares 35 and 3 6. The path of the lightbeams may easily be seen from the figure.

' The mirrorsli through 36 revolve round the optical axis. By displacingthe optical squares parallel to the optical axis the diameter oi' thecircl 9 is modified. All machines before described render duplicates onwhich the sides or the top and the bottom are interchanged as comparedwith the original. In

' order to avoid this drawback the machine reprein the mirror 31.

It is preferable that the film-gates are lying within the same plane.Such a machine is drawn in Figure 6. Its essential optical parts areconstructed in the same manner as those of Figure 1. But between thefilms and the mirrors l arid refleeting surfaces 36 and 39 are providedso that the gates may be placed in the same piane which is parallel tothe optical axis. Thus the pull-down mechanisms and 4I may be driven bythe same axis l2. A shutter represented in Figure 7, may be i'lxed tothe axis 42.

In order to cause the images on the duplicate film to correspond to theorigin film as regards the correctness of the sides and the top andbottom, the mirror 38 is made up as an optical square interchanging thetop and the bottom. The edge of this square is running in a planedefined by the normal line of the film I and by the optical axis. Thecylindrical lenses I3 and 44 may be placed in front of the films inorder to cause different distances of the focal plane from the objectivein the sections parallel and perpendicular to` the lenticular elements,the said distance in the parallel section being greater by about thethickness of a film than in'the other section.

M is a light source. It may be a long filament perpendicular to thedirection of the lenticula; As, in the figure, the lenticulations arelar to the drawing piane, the filament M too is normal to thedrawing-plane. The light is gathered .on the origin film by thecondenser lenses 45 and 46 which may partly be cylindrical. Acylindrically shaped shutter 41 rotates round the light source. Thecylinder is impermeable 'to light between the points I8 and I9. Betweenthe points 50 and 48 and between 49 and 5| grayglasses are arranged fordecreasing the intensity of light when the images corresponding to thelateral filter-zones are printed. The intensity of light which servesfor printing the central zone may be unaffected, so that the drum isopen between the points 50 and 5|. This is in accordance with the fact,spoken of when Figure 12 was explained, that the time of exposure issomewhat longer for the marginal than for the central zones. Of coursethere may any gray-glasses be put at the openings of the drum, theirtransparencies being chosen as to reinforce or to weaken one color orthe other.

A shutter 43 turns round the shaft 42 synchronously with thefilm-feeding mechanism, with the carrier 6 and with the shutter 41. Theconstruction of the shutter 43 may be seen from the Figure '7 which is asectional view taken perpendicularly to the shaft 42. 6 is thecylindrical- 1y shaped carrier for the mirrors 4 and 5. At its centerthe objective 3 with the small aperture may be seen. The shutter 43 hasfour segments 52 through 55 covering the aperture while the image of theobjective crosses the lines l0, I2, I3 and ll of the Figures 11 or 12.The carrier 6 has a slit 56 allowing the segments to pass by theobjective. The exact interrupture of light is therefore effected by theshutter 43 near the objective, thus avoiding color-dominants on theimages, which may sometimes be observed when the end and the beginningof exposure is defined by the shutter 41 near the light source. Thisshutter 41 serves only for stopping the light after the segment 55 hasinterrupted it. Similarly, the exact moment of the beginning of exposure is effected by the segment 52.

The new machines may not only be used for printing at a rate of 1:1 butalso at any other rate. It is only necessary to arrange the opticalmeans on one side of the objective in distances which are different ofthose on the other side, a necessity being that both films are seen inexactly opposite directions from the objective. The machines representedby the Figures 8, 9 and 10 serve for getting prints which are greater orsmaller than the originals. I'hey correspond so completely to themachines represented in the Figures 1, 2 and 3 that no furtherexplication is needed.

' Instead of refractory optical systems imaging the origin film on theduplicate lm such systems may be used which are effective either byreflexion or by reflection and refraction. Figure 13 represents, forinstance, such an arrangement which else is similar to that of Figure 3.The light passes the origin filml l, the mirror 21, the optical square28 and reaches the reflecting image-forming system 51, which may eitherbe made up-of a mere concave mirror or of reecting and refractingsurfaces in combination. For instance a plane mirror may be placedbehind an objective, which is corrected for imaging objects to infinity.From 51 the lightv passes once more the optical square 28 and then themirror 30. At last it reaches the duplicate film 2. The optical squaremust be so arranged that its edge meets the optical axis of theobjective.

The mirrors 21, 28, 30 and the system 51 are rotatable round thestraight connection of the centers of the film-gates.

I claim:

1. In combination, a film having thereon a multiplicity oflentioulations, an optical systenf comprising a :lens through which andsaid film light may pass, optical means forming a virtual image of saidlens at one side 'only of the optical axis thereof, and means torotateat least part of said optical system with respect to said film andabout the optical axis of the system, whereby said virtual image iscaused to move about the axis of the system.

2. In combination, an original film and a copy film each having thereona multiplicity of lenticulations, an optical systemcomprising a lensthrough which light may pass from the original film to the copy film andoptical means forming a virtual image of said lens at one side of theoptical axis thereof as viewed from either of said films, and means torotate at least part of said optical system with respect to said filmsand about the optical axis, whereby said virtual image is caused toappear to move about said optical axis.

3. In combination, a film having thereon a multiplicity oflentioulations, an optical system comprising a lens through which andsaid film light may pass, optical means forming a virtual image of saidlens at one side of the optical axis thereof, means to rotate at leastpart of said optical system with respect to said film and about theoptical axis of the system, whereby said virtual image is caused to moveabout the axis of the system, and a diaphragm between said lens and saidfilm and preventing the passage to the film of substantially all lightexcept that used in forming said image.

4. In combination, an original film and a copy film each having thereona multiplicity of lenticulations, an optical system comprising a. lensthrough which light may pass from the original film to the copy film andoptical means forming a virtual image of said lens at one side of theoptical axis thereof as viewed from either of said films, means torotate at least part of said optical system with respect to said filmsand about the optical axis, whereby said virtual image is caused toappear to move about said optical axis, anddiaphragms between said lensand said films and preventing the passage to the films of substantiallyall light except that used in forming said images.

5. In combination, an original film and a copy film each having thereona multiplicity of lenticulations, an optical system comprising a lensthrough which light may pass from the original film and to the copy filmand optical means forming a virtual image of said lens at one side ofthe optical axis thereof as viewed fom either of said films, means torotate atleast part of said optical system with respect to said filmsand about the optical axis, whereby said virtual image is caused toappear to move about said optical axis and across the copy film twice,and means limiting the exposure of said copy film to one passage of saidimage across the film.

6. In combination, an original film and a. copy film each having thereona multiplicity of lenticulations, an optical Asystem comprising a lensthrough which light may pass from the original film to the copy film andoptical means forming a virtual image of said lens at one side of theoptical axis thereof as viewed from either of said films, means torotate at least part of said optical system v'ith respect to said filmsand about the optical axis, whereby said virtual image is caused toappear to move about said optical axis and across the copy lm in acurved path, and

means to vary the amount of light reaching the copy film along saidcurved path.

7. In combination, an original filmand a copy film each having thereon amultiplicity of lenticulations, an optical system comprising a lensthrough which light may pass from the original film' to the copy filmand optical means forming' a virtual image of said lens at one side ofthe optical axis thereof as viewed from either of said films, means torotate at least part of said optical system with respect to said filmsand about the optical axis, whereby said virtual image is caused toappear .to move about said optical axis and across the copyfilm in acurved path, means to vary the amount of light reaching the copy filmalong said curved path, and means limiting the exposure of said copyfilm to one passage of said image across the film.

8. In combination, an original film having thereon a multiplicity oflenticulations and copy film and optical means forming a virtual imageof said lens at one side of the optical axis` thereof as viewed fromeither of said films, means to rotate at least part of said opticalsystem with respect to said films and about said optical axis, wherebysaid virtual image is caused to appear to move about said optical axisand across the copy lm, and means to interrupt said light at such timeas to avoid photographing on the copy film of the dividing lines betweensaid records on the original film, to form on the copy film linescorresponding to said dividing lines.

9. In combination, an original film having thereon a 'multiplicity oflenticulations and adapted to be used with a color lter having aplurality of zones and a group of color records behind each of saidlenticulations, a copy film having similar lenticulations thereon, meansfor passing light through the original nlm to the copy lm, an opticalsystem comprising a lens through which light may pass from the originalfilm to the copy lm and optical means forming a virtual image of saidlens at one side of the optical axis thereof as viewed from either ofsaid lms, means to rotate at least partvof said optical systemwithrespect to said film and about said optical axis, whereby said virtualimage is caused to appear to move about said optical axis and across thecopy nlm, means to interrupt said light at such time as to avoidphotographing on the copy film of the dividing lines between saidrecords on Athe original film, to form on the copy nlm linescorresponding to said dividing lines,l and means to vary the respectiveamounts of light passing to the copy film through the records on theoriginal iilm 10. In combination, an original film having thereon amultiplicity of lenticulations and adapted to be used with a-colorfilter having a plurality of zones and a group of color records behindeach of said lenticulations, a copy film having similar lenticulationsthereon, means for passing light through the original film to the copyfilm, an optical system comprising a lens through which light may passfrom the original film to the'copy film and optical means forming avirtual image of said lens at one side of the optical axis thereof asviewed from either of said films, means to rotate at least part of saidoptical system with respect to said lm and about said optical axis,whereby said virtual image is caused to appear to move about saidoptical axis and across the copy film, and means to vary the respectiveamount of light passing to the copy film through the records on theoriginal film.

1l. In combination, a lm having thereon a multiplicity oflenticulations, a lens through which and said film light may pass, adiaphragm disposed between said film and lens and preventing directviewing of one from the other, means to deflect light passing throughthe lens and film past said diaphragm, and meansv to rotate said,defiecting means about the axis of the lens.

12. In combination, an original film having thereon a multiplicity oflenticulations and adapted to be used with a color filter having aplurality of zones and a group of color recordsV behind each of saidlenticulations, a copy film `having similar lenticulations thereon,means for passing light through the original lmto the copy film, anoptical system comprising a lens through which light may pass from theoriginal lm to the copy film and optical means forming a virtual imageof said lens at one side of the optical axis thereof as viewedfromeither of said lms, means to rotate at least part of said optical systemwith respect to said film and about said optical axis, whereby saidvirtual image is caused o 113. In combination, an original film havingthereon a multiplicity of lenticulations and adapted to be used with acolor filter having a plurality of zones and a group of color recordsbehind each of said lenticulations, a copy film having similarlenticulations thereon, means for passing light through the originalfilm to the copy film, a source of light to illuminate said originalfilm, and a rotatable shutter surrounding said source of light andhaving an opening therein to pass said original film at regularintervals during rotation of the shutter about the source of light, saidopening having transparent members disposed thereover adjacent its edgesto decrease the amount of light passing through those parts-i35

